Improvement in corn-planters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL HERB, J. HERE, AND J. F. HERE, 0F LANCASTER COUNTY,

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 30.316, dated October 9, 1860.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DANIEL HERR, JOHN HERR, and JosEPH F. HERR, of the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements on corn-planting machines for planting two rows at a time or in hills equidistant; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-- Figure l is an isometrical view of the planter, with a portion of the wheel removed to show the several parts in place. Fig.2shows a portion of the machinery, with the two-handled parallel lever attachment. (Not shown on the model.) Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with the gearing detached and the shovels raised by means of the lever 2, Figs. 1 or 2. Fig. 4 shows the sides and face of the camson the cog-wheel M and the pinion N detached. Fig. 5 illustrates several forms of the tubular shovels. Fig. 6 illustrates the adjustable hopper H on its rear; Fig. 7, the device for adjusting the rod to the side scorer of the machine or drill.

The construction and operation may be more fully set forth, as follows, viz: The outside pieces, F and F are pivoted atf to the frame G of the drill, and are united behind by the bed or cross-piece E, which rests on the sides G of the frame. This cross-piece supports the base-blocks B B of the hoppers, in

- which there is a groove for the sliding valves A under said hoppers H H These valves are fixed to the blocks 0 by the pins 1. The blocks 0 are not affixed to the bed E, but to the sliding ledge D, which latter is provided with a slot,X, at each end for the headed pins on the side pieces, F F. (These slots may also be made on the front edge of D and the headed pins in E, if preferred.) The sliding ledge D has a notch or recess on its front edge, Y, Fig. 2, for the reception of the cams on the sides of the cogged wheel M, which derivesits motion from the pinion N, affixed to the axle K of the carriage or drill wheels. Thus the cams impart a horizontal motion to the sliding ledge D, and the block (3 to the valves A, to which they are connected, as aforesaid. These valves are provided with two openings, 3 3, Fig. 2, through which (either single or both) the corn is dropped into the tubes 15 and shovels P and lodged in'the soil. There i: also a headed peg, 2, between said openings on the valves, within the hopper, for agitating the corn to prevent clogging, and a brush of bristles against the inside of the hopper resting on the valves to facilitate the cleaning and discharge of the corn. The cogged cam M has its bearingin an upright block, L, fixed on the piece F, and when in gear resting on the frame Gr, but not connected to it. The shovels P, by their chains V, are attached to the rear of the cross-piece or bed E, so that by operating the lever Z the bed E and side pieces, F F, are elevated, carrying with them the cam, slide, hoppers, and shovels, all simultaneously. The seat S ofthc driver gives him command of the cam, lever, and scoring-gage J.

We are aware that the scorer J, pivoted centrally, as shown, is not new; but we propose to make the rod adjustable by means of aslotted cap, R to which Iis hinged. Fig.7. We also design to make the hopper H and block G adjustable by a slotted plate, 5, (shown by Fig. 6,) as also the tubular shovel and support connected with it. By means ot'a screw-holtand holes on the front cross-piece, G of theframe' the hopper next the gearing will remain firmly fixed in its place. Thus the drill can be adjusted to plant corn from three to four feet apart. The wings Q, in the rear of the shovels I, Fig. 5, are for scraping up the soil to cover the corn; we also propose to make or use two wings, Q, (9?, with a roller, R, between them to follow the tubular shovels, hung in chains U, and connected with V to support and raise the same, as shown by Fig. 5 also.

In order to plant the corn in squares or checker-drills, a furrow is made at each end for a starting-point. The cogs on the cam being out of gear-with those on the pinion, thedriver can easily turn the cam by hand from his seat until the corn drops into the starting-furrow, and by the lever the shovels and cams are dropped into their proper position in an instant and the machine started. The regular deposit from a given point lodges the corn uniformly equidistant apart to any desired gage set for the distance of the hills.

The object of the two-handled lever device, Fig. 2, is to enable a person in the rear of the drill to operate the same. This object may also be obtained by extending the rear end of the lever Z, as shown by Fig. 1.

By introducing a partition into each hopper and operatingboth discharging-openings, with a stirring peg and brush in each division, it

could be employed to plant both corn and of those parts separately considered.

What We claimas our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination and arrangement of the cogged cam M, slotted sliding ledge D, connecting-blocks C O", sliding valves A, with their openings 3 3, and pegs 2, together with thehopper and shovel-support E on the pivoted side pieces, F, and cam-support L, simul- 'taneously operated bythe lever Z, substen' tially as herein set forth end specified.

DANIEL HERE. JOHN HERE.

hir JOSEBH I 2 HERB.

. mark Witnesses:

S. G. MUssER, JVAQOB STAUFFER. 

